Matala Hippies Stories from Crete
Updated Nov 2016 - May 2023
My Visit to Matala June 2013 was to find out and follow the 1960’s hippies trail in one day,
I did know a little about Matala’s Hippie’s stories from the past that began in the 1960’s. Mostly thanks to Elzo Smid and his collected hippie stories.
These are the stories of the young people that visited Matala in the sixties and seventies, by Elzo Smid. Not to be missed!
Elzo Smid visited Matala in 1996 for the first time. "I was told that in the sixties dropouts and hitchhikers from Europe and the USA settled here and formed a community in the cave
I spent a day in Matala, not too crowded in June. Good beach, many tavernas with the beachfront position. Enjoy lunch at one of the tavernas, a Greek Salad, Mixed fishplate, Cretan white wine and coffee.
My sightseeing walk took me to the colourful town square and the hippte famous Mermaid cafe and of course down to the beach area, where the local man George (Yiorgis), was one of the very few locals to adopt to the “hippie style and life”. George famous message is still to be seen on one of the sea walls.
“Today is Life Tomorrow never comes”
My overall impression of Matala, it looked a bit tired.
Mind you, Greece was economically badly hit by the austerity posed on them by the EU for many, many years with a large number of people unemployed. Visited several of the well known “historical Hippie places. The laid back and relaxed atmosphere strengthen my impression of the past flower powe lifestyle in Matala.
Matala back to the 1960’s
Tasos Kokkinidis recently wrote a very good aericle in Greek Reporter about Matala: The Hippie Haven of Crete That Inspired a Generation.
Joni Mitchell's song "Carey"
Joni Mitchell from her experiences living in Matala for 4 months in 1969.
Joni Mitchell was born in Canada in 1943 and moved to New York as a young folk singer. After a few years in New York, Joni Mitchell took to wandering around France and Spain, finally landing in Matala, Crete. It was a tough time politically, with the Greek military junta in power. After 4 months on Matala, Mitchell found she was homesick, but the time spent living in the caves obviously made its mark on her memory, with many of her experiences included in the song Carey.
Hippie! Hippie! Matala! Matala!
The ERT S.A. company produced a great documentary film Hippie! Hippie! Matala! Made by Maria Koufopolou. Thank you!
Matala! interviewing locals and hippies who lived and was in Matala in the '60s and '70s including the famous and popular George (Yiorgis) the local fisherman-hippie... This is good fun!
Matala Beach Festival
In the summer of 2011, the Mayor of the region initiated a festival on the Matala beach to celebrate the launch of the ‘Myth of Matala’ book featuring photos of the hippie cave residents during the 60s & 70s.
It was a hippie reunion. 35,000 people heard about it and flocked to Matala beach. In 2012 over 58,000 people visited the festival weekend.
Matala with a great beach location, free music, and art events for all ages throughout the week and a big hippie love-in vibe the Matala Beach Festival should continue to delight visitors to Crete.
Here are some festival links
Matala Beach Festival another Facebook link Visit Matala
Get uour Matala Guide
Somewhere to eat and drink
Sirtaki Taverna good greek cuisine, nice atmosphere
Georges yard Creatan inspired meny. Welcoming atmosphere. Season starts early May.
Marinero Bar relaxing bar offer food-snacks, nice cocktails-drinks
Marinero Bar Image from my visit 2013
Sleep in Matala
will offer you beach resorts to boutique hotels, here's my pick of the most attractive places to stay in Matala In no particular order, here goes
Hotel Fragiskos 2 star, air-conditioning (might be extra charge)
Hotel Fantastic Matala, 3 star, air-condtioning
Easy to get to Matala by road from Heraklion
The best way to get from Heraklion to Mátala without a car is to bus which takes 2h 27m and costs 6€ - 9€.
The local bus company ktel, Good website, informative, about bus routes, time tables and reservation/booking online facilities.
The distance between Heraklion and Matala is approximately 67 Km the fastest route.
